Training device

ABSTRACT

A training device comprising a body having at least one limb extending outwardly from the body, wherein the body is defined by a resilient chamber arranged to resiliently return pressure exerted by the user against the body during an interaction between the device and the user.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a training device. Embodiments of theinvention find particular, but not exclusive, use in as a trainingdevice, in sports such as martial arts and wrestling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In Martial Arts training, it is important for a student or practitionerto practice individual movements so as to perfect the manner in whichthey interact with their opponent. One manner in which martial artistsand their students practice individual moves is to practice on eachother, but of course, it is not always possible to have a sparring ortraining partner as many artists and students prefer to train at theirown pace or by themselves.

Practitioners also use dummies which model the limbs and body shape of ahuman opponent. A known device is the grappling dummy which is usuallymade of a thick fabric in the form of a human stuffed with fabricfillings or sand.

These grappling dummies allow a user to practice their individualgrappling moves by being able to provide a human like platform for themto practice their moves. These moves may include locks, twists, grabs,throws or wrestles where the artist is attempting to overpower thedummy. However, as the dummy is usually in a stable state, that is, as alifeless object, it does not in any way offer any resistance against theuser who is practicing their grappling moves on the dummy, and thus,reducing the effectiveness of the training as a real life opponent islikely to resist against the martial artist.

The preceding discussion of the background art is intended to facilitatean understanding of the present invention only. The discussion is not anacknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to is orwas part of the common general knowledge as at the filing date of theapplication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a training devicecomprising:

-   -   a body having at least one limb extending outwardly from the        body;    -   wherein the body is defined by a resilient chamber arranged to        resiliently return pressure exerted by the user against the body        during an interaction between the device and the user.

In one embodiment, the spherical body has five limbs. The spherical bodyand the limbs may be arranged to a form a near human like shape.

The plurality of limbs may be integrally formed with the spherical bodyand at least one of the body and the at least one limb may beinflatable.

In one embodiment, the body includes a re-sealable opening arranged toreceive or release an inflating medium and the re-sealable opening maybe arranged to control the volume of the inflating medium allowed to bereleased from the body.

A device in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein thedevice is shaped to assist the user in performing interactions includinga grappling manoeuvre, a wrestling manoeuvre, a sparring manoeuvre, athrowing manoeuvre or any combination of one or more manoeuvres thereof.

The limbs may include a resistive structure arranged to resist contactfrom the user, wherein the resistive structure may include a spikeshaped structure.

In one embodiment, the device may be shaped to be unstable wheninteracting with the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of thepresent invention, a preferred embodiment will now be described, by wayof example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 to 3 are diagrams illustrating various isometric views of asports training device in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Reference numerals in the following description represent like (orequivalent) functional and/or structural components or features in therelated Figures.

Broadly, the embodiment described herein is a device for interactingwith a user comprising: a generally spherical body having a plurality oflimbs extending outwardly from the body, wherein the body is defined byan inflatable chamber arranged to resiliently return pressure exerted bythe user against the body during an interaction between the device andthe user.

In more detail, referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, the device 100 forinteracting with a user includes a generally spherical and resilientbody 102 having a plurality of limbs 104 a, 104 b, 104 c, 104 d, 104 e,etc., extending outwardly from the body 102. Preferably, the device 100is made from a plastic material and can be filled by air or a liquid soas to give the body a defined yet yielding and resilient shape.

Once inflated, the body 102 can be used by a user (not shown), such as amartial artist to practice their grappling moves. As the body 100 isinflatable and generally of a spherical or elliptical shape, the body isquite resilient when a user is grappling the device. In other words, thedevice generally resists pressure applied by the user and remains in anunstable configuration when a user is wrestling with the device. Thatis, the resilient body returns any force or pressure applied by a useron the body to the user. Moreover, the generally spherical structure ofthe body makes it very difficult if not practically impossible for auser to balance themselves on the device. In other words, when a userattempts to balance themselves on top of the device, the sphericalnature of the device results in the user being rolled off the device andonto the ground (except in instance where a user has developedexceptional balance).

The device is preferably manufactured from a durable plastic polymermaterial. In some embodiments, the body has a valve (not shown) whichcan be used to inject or release air (or another fluid, whether liquidor gas) into the body so as to inflate or deflate the device. Asdifferent types of training require different levels of resilience, thevalve, in one embodiment, is arranged to release air from within thebody in a controlled manner so that the body will only be deflated aftera predetermined number of interactions with a user. This is advantageousas a user can set the valve to control the duration of their training.

Once the device is inflated, it can be used by a user in the practice ofgrappling moves, including the practice of locks, grabs or twists on thelimbs, as they represent the four limbs and head of a human, whilst alsoallowing the user to effectively wrestle and use their own body weightto force the device on the ground. This is similar to a wrestling movein which the user is attempting to overpower an opponent.

As the device is generally resilient and unstable, the device will tendto resist the user when the user applies a force on the device. Thiswould result in the device escaping from the user's lock, twist orwrestle thus training the user to improve their technique. As anexample, when the user is on top of the device, using their body weightto pin the device on the ground, as would be performed in a wrestlingmove, the device would resist the user's body weight due to theresilience of the body. As the body is also generally spherical, thedevice is likely to roll, thereby tending to move away from the user'sbody and therefore escape the user's lock or wrestle.

In addition to these advantages, as the device is preferably inflatableit is also easily transportable and stored, leaving valuable space formartial arts gyms to store other equipment.

In some embodiments, the limbs of the body may not be part of theinflatable body but could be formed from a more solid material such asrubber, metals or wood. The limbs may also be smooth so as to make itdifficult for a user to grip or otherwise hold the limbs. In oneembodiment (not shown in the figures), the device includes resistivedevices such as sharp implements (e.g. thorns or spikes) which wouldmake it more difficult for a user to grapple, thereby providing a toolthat assists the user in improving their skill.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerousvariations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown inthe specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are,therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive.

Throughout the specification and claims, unless the context requiresotherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or“comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a statedinteger or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integeror group of integers.

1. A training device comprising: a body having at least one limbextending outwardly from the body; wherein the body is defined by aresilient chamber arranged to resiliently return pressure exerted by theuser against the body during an interaction between the device and theuser.
 2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the spherical bodyhas five limbs.
 3. A device in accordance with claim 2, wherein thespherical body and the limbs are arranged to a form a near human likeshape.
 4. A device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the plurality oflimbs are integrally formed with the spherical body.
 5. A device inaccordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the body and the atleast one limb is inflatable.
 6. A device in accordance with claim 5,wherein the body includes a re-sealable opening arranged to receive orrelease an inflating medium.
 7. A device in accordance with claim 6,wherein the re-sealable opening is arranged to control the volume of theinflating medium allowed to be released from the body.
 8. A device inaccordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device isshaped to assist the user in performing interactions including agrappling manoeuvre, a wrestling manoeuvre, a sparring manoeuvre, athrowing manoeuvre or any combination of one or more manoeuvres thereof.9. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the limbs include aresistive structure arranged to resist contact from the user.
 10. Adevice in accordance with claim 9, wherein the resistive structureincludes a spike shaped structure.
 11. A device in accordance with claim1, wherein the device is shaped to be unstable when interacting with theuser.